Convertible container for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A convertible container for vehicle includes: (1) a main board which is made of a tenacious foam material that has air rooms; the main board being a cross-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linked polyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene foam and foam EVA, i.e., ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, while said foam material has a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm, and one or two sides thereof being laminated with various materials, such as polyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer to form a composite foam board, thereby enhancing the aesthetic feeling and durability; (2) two side boards symmetrically provided at the two sides of the main board; and (3) plurality of zippers sewn at the peripheries of the main board and the side boards. Thereby, the main board and the two side boards can be folded and combined with the zippers to form a convertible container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a convertible container for vehicle,particularly to one that is easily packed up, detached and compacted forstorage purposes.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A container for vehicle of the prior art is generally composed of acontainer and a cover, both of which are made of a hard plasticmaterial. The container is disposed in the trunk of vehicle forcontaining articles.

As the vehicle container along with the cover of the prior art is madeof a hard plastic material, it has certain shape and volume.Accordingly, when the container is not in use, it cannot be packed upand would occupy a certain space in the trunk of the vehicle or at theuser's home. As such, the vehicle container of the prior art is spacewasting since it is inconvenient for storage when it is not in use.

In view of the above, the inventor expected to provide a convertiblecontain for vehicle, which is convenient for use since it can be foldedfor storage when it is not in use. Besides, when the invention iszippered to form a three-dimensional container, there are fine bordersbetween the boards. And as the boards are integrally formed of a foammaterial, the container would have less seams, and is water-proof,thereby allow the consumers to use the invention conveniently. That isthe inventor's primary motive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a convertiblecontainer for vehicle, which can allow the integrally formed main boardand side boards to combine via zippers, thereby accomplishing acontainer with a three-dimensional space, which is easily packed,detached and compacted for storage purposes.

To obtain the above objects, the convertible container for vehicleaccording to the present invention includes a main board which is formedby a foam material and can be bended; two side boards symmetricallyprovided at the two sides of the main board; and pluralities of zippersprovided at the peripheries of the main board and the side boards. Eachof the zippers is sewn between the peripheries of the main board and theside boards. A handle is screwed to each of the side boards, while aVelcro is sewn to the overlapping positions of the two sides of the mainboard such that when the two side boards are folded inside the mainboard, they can be fastened via the Velcro to reduce the volume of theconvertible container and therefore ease storage. The main board isprimarily produced via a light-weight foam material, which is made of atenacious foam material that has air rooms. The main board can be across-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linkedpolyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene and foam EVA,while said foam material has a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm, and oneor two side(s) thereof can be a composite of various materials, such aspolyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet orwear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer, in order to enhance theaesthetic feeling and durability. As the foam material has theadvantages of elasticity, transformation and softness, it can be easilyformed with pluralities of corrugated lines on the surface. Besides,after the foam material is pre-heated to soften, it can be disposed intoa mold having pluralities of corrugated extrusions for pressing to formpatterns, and further combined with a polyester fabric, gloss polyestersheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplastic syntheticelastomer to integrally form a aesthetic, durable, soft and superiorquality material applicable to make the boards of the convertiblecontainer.

To completely appreciate these and other objects of the presentinvention as well as the invention itself, all of which will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed descriptionof the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the present invention in an expanded status.

FIG. 3 shows the invention in a folded status.

FIG. 4 shows the use status of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows the process of folding the invention.

FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the invention after being packed up.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows another use status of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows a further use status of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the embodiment as shown is a convertiblecontainer for vehicle, which is composed of a main board 1, two sideboards 2 and pluralities of zippers 3. Each of the zippers 3 is sewn tothe peripheries of the main board 1 and the side boards 2, thereby themain board 1 and the side boards 2 can be folded and combined via thezippers 3 to form a three-dimensional container that is easily detachedand stored.

Said main board 1 is disposed in an oven to heat until it is softened,and then put in a mold to press, cool and detach to form pluralities ofgrooves and extrusions, allowing the main board 1 to form corrugatedlines 11 on the appropriate positions of the surface, thereby enhancingthe intensity and artistic appearance thereof. The foam material istenacious foam material that has air rooms. The main board can be across-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linkedpolyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene and foam EVA,while said foam material has a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm, and oneor two side(s) thereof can be a composite of various materials, such aspolyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet orwear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer, in order to enhance theaesthetic feeling and durability. Said foam material and compositematerial are integrally formed via press by molds, such that pluralitiesof corrugated grooves 11 are formed on the appropriate positions of themain board 1, thereby enhancing the intensity and artistic appearancethereof. A Velcro 12 is sewn to the inner side of one end of the mainboard 1, while the outer side of the corresponding end of the main board1 is provided with a felt strip 13, such that the main board 1 can beheld by the Velcro 12 and felt strip 13 after being folded to form ashape of a three-dimensional container (as shown in FIG. 3).

There are pluralities of corrugated grooves 2 on each of the side board2 which are symmetrically provided at the two sides of the main board 1.And at least one side board 2 is provided with two holes 22 forreceiving the two ends of a handle 23. The handle 23 is provided with alocking flap 24 at each end for being screwed to the side boards 2.

The zipper 3 is sewn between the peripheries of the main board 1 and theside boards 2. Accordingly, a novel convertible container for vehicle(as shown in FIG. 3) can be accomplished.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, when the convertible container is put touse, the user must first fold up the boards to form a three-dimensionalcontainer, i.e. fold up the two side boards 2 towards the main board 1to form a right angle therebetween, fold up the main board 1 along theperiphery of the side boards 2, and zipper up the zippers 3, therebyaccomplishing a three-dimensional container to provide a space formed bythe main board 1 and the side boards for containing articles anddisposed in the trunk of the vehicle.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, whenever the user wishes to detach thecontainer and reduce the volume thereof, he/she needs only pull down thezippers 3 to separate the main board 1 and the side boards 2 and allowthem to spread to a plane, fold the two side boards 2 toward the mainboard 1 to lean upon the main board 1, and fold the main board 1 tostack upon the side boards 2 to reduce the size of the main board 1 (asshown in FIG. 6), thereby easing storage of the convertible container.

FIGS. 7 and 8 shows another embodiment of the invention, which can beapplicable as a container for disposing on the roof of vehicle. Whereinthe main board 1 is integrally formed by a foam material via moldpressing. In addition to the specific rigidity required for making athree-dimensional container, a tenacious rubber board (not shown) can bepadded on the main board 1, and two guide rails 4 installed with a wheel41 at the end can be provided on appropriate positions under the mainboard 1, thereby after the main board 1 and the side boards 2 are foldedinto a container, it can be disposed on the roof of vehicle via saidguide rails 4 (as shown in FIG. 8).

The above-mentioned foam material can be easily pressed by molds to formcorrugated grooves, which can be arranged to form specific patterns toenhance the aesthetic feeling of the container appearance.

As shown in FIG. 9, after the container has been accomplished, it can bedragged easily by way of the wheels 41 provided at the end of the guiderails 4 and the handle 23 provided on the side board 2.

Concluded above, the convertible container for vehicle according to theinvention can efficiently improve the disadvantages existing in theprior art. The main board is folded with the side boards to form acontainer via the zippers, thereby accomplishing a container that iseasily folded for use and easily detached for storage. Still more, themain board is formed of a foam material, which is light-weight, soft,elastic and easily shaped up.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed Claims, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

1. A convertible container for vehicle, including: a main board, which,being made of an easily formed foam material and has appropriate tensileand tear strength, is baked under a temperature of 300˜500° F. to softenand then pressed via molds to form pluralities of corrugated lines beingable to be arranged to present a pattern; the foam material can be across-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linkedpolyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene foam and foamEVA; two side boards, which are made of an easily formed foam material,that is baked under a temperature of 300˜500° F. to soften and thenpressed via molds to form pluralities of corrugated lines being able tobe arranged to present a pattern; the two side boards are symmetricallyprovided at the two sides of the main board with one handle provided onat least one of the side boards; the foam material can be a cross-linkedpolyolefine foam material, such as cross-linked polyethylene foammaterial, cross-linked polypropylene and foam EVA; and pluralities ofzippers, which are provided at the peripheries of the main board and theside boards.
 2. The convertible container for vehicle according to claim1, wherein one or two sides of the main board and the side boards can belaminated with various materials, such as polyester fabric, glosspolyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplasticsynthetic elastomer to form a composite foam board.
 3. The convertiblecontainer for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the side board isprovided with two holes for correspondingly receiving the handle's twoends, which are provided with respective locking flaps.
 4. Theconvertible container for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the mainboard is provided with two guide rails at appropriate positions, whileeach of the guide rails is installed with a wheel.
 5. The convertiblecontainer for vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a hook strip is sewnto the inner side of one end of the main board, while a loop strip issewn to the outer side of the corresponding end of the main board.